Pole dancing is a form of erotic dancing that takes muscular endurance and coordination as well as sensuality. It involves dancing sensually with a vertical pole and is often used in night clubs. It is often combined with striptease, and/or lap dancing. The dancer may simply hold the pole, or use it to perform more athletic moves such as climbs, spins and body inversions.

Pole dancing has become a new form of exercise, in which women (and sometimes men) use the pole as a workout prop.

Porn star Jenna Jameson has described some risks of pole dancing: "Almost every dancer has bunions, corns, and bone spurs on their heels. And they all learn to live with constant sprained ankles. I've seen girls rupture their implants from hitting the pole wrong."

The pole

The dance pole or stripper pole typically consists of a pole running from floor to ceiling. The diameter is usually around 2 inches, allowing it to be gripped comfortably with one hand.

Home versions are available which may be used for practice or aerobic exercise. Materials include polished stainless steel, chromed steel, and brass. Each material has different "grippiness" characteristics. "Grippier" materials are easier to hold on to (with hands or thighs, for example), but harder to swivel around. Polished steel is one of the slickest materials; brass is one of the grippiest.

Many home poles are held in place by using threading to brace them against a ceiling joist. Stationary and rotating versions are available.

Reference

• The Jenna Jameson quote is from the Financial Times magazine of January 22, 2005, itself quoting her book How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale.

External link

• A non-nude photograph of a female pole dancer (http://www.rscotthooper.com/glamour/pole_dancer.html)